wpe4.jpg (1335 bytes)   HEALTH AWARENESS MESSAGE FROM   wpe5.jpg (1335 bytes)

INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(NEBS branch)

for THE BENEFIT OF GENERAL POPULATION.

PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IN CHILDREN AND THEIR PRIMARY TREATMENT.


A] Prevention of Accidents:

General Prevention of Accidents:

Prevention of Road Accidents

  1. Teaching Road Crossing Discipline.
  2. Assuring Safe Cycling of Children.
  3. Prevention of Indiscriminate Use of Motorised Vehicles.
    4.

Prevention of Other Accidents

Burn Injuries :

Do Not Allow Children  -   Near Fires
                                   -   Near Hot Utensils.
                                  -   Near Hot Water
                                   -   Buckets Etc.

Drowning Injuries :

Supervise Children in Pools and Ponds.
Do Not Permit Infants near Buckets of Water.

Injuries Due To Sharp Objects

Toys Should Not Have Sharp Edges Or Pointed Corners.
Do not Permit Children to Handle Knives, Scissors Etc.

Electrical Injuries:

Assure that All Plug Points in The House Are Blocked And Are Out Of Reach Of Toddlers.

Miscellaneous Injuries:

    • Baby Walkers Are Not Totally Safe And Infants In Walkers Do Require Supervision.
    • Sleeping Children Should Be Well Protected From Falling Off Cots.
    • Balloons and Plastic Bags May Cause Suffocation And Should Be Kept Away From Children.
    • Special Care during Holi and Diwali.
      •

 

Primary Care of Injuries

A] Burn Injuries:

Principle: Neutralise The Thermal Agent At The Earliest.

  • Pour Clean Cold Water On Burnt Area  / Cold Water Bath
    Antiseptic Creams Locally.
    Urgent Medical Help.

- In Case of Electrical Burns.
- Switch Off Electrical Supply
-Cardio-RespiratoryResuscitation If Required.

B] Cuts And Bruises:

Principles: Stop Bleeding, Prevent Infection & Minimise Pain.

    • Cover The Wound With A Clean Cloth Or Clean Cotton And Exert Steady Continuous Pressure For 4-5 Minutes.
    • Minimal Movement of Part.
    • Improperly Applied Tourniquets May Do More Harm Than Good.
    • Elevation Of Part If Possible.
      •


C] In Suspected Bone Injuries:

    • Cuts To Be Treated as Above.
    • Splint Part – Use Wooden Rulers or Blunt Pieces Of Stiff Plastics Etc and bandage.
    • Transport with minimal movement to part.
      •


D] In Major Injuries.

Identify major injuries by:

    • Obvious bone deformities with bleeding and cuts.
    • Injuries on head.
    • Unconsciousness even if transient.
    • Suspect spine injuries: pain in the spine,Reduced movement of 1/more limbs.
    • Suspected internal bleeding:Blunt abdominal/ chest injury.Pallor. Cold and wet extremities.
    • Breathlessness after injury.

ASSURE:

    • BREATHING ( if necessary mouth – mouth resuscitation).
    • CARDIAC THUMP IF NECESSARY.
    • Ask for urgent medical help.
    • Stabilise neck and head with a collar.
    • Minimal bending of body.
    • Transport preferably in stretcher or on flat wooden board.
    • Preferably transfer to centre with 24 hour casualty / emergency facilities.
      •

 

 

SPECIFIC INJURIES

Eye Injuries:

    • Avoid Toys with Loose Missiles Like Bow And Arrow.
    • Strictly Avoid Kajal.

Ear Injuries:

    • Do Not Put Pins Etc Into Ear .
    • Most Ear Buds Are Not For Children And Are Often Harmful In Adults Also.
    • Perforations Of The Ear Drum May Require Surgery
    • Use Only Drops Recommended By Your Doctor.


Limb / Hand / Finger Injuries:

Exercise care while shutting doors at home and in cars.

Strictly, Do Not Permit Children To Peep Out Of Running Vehicles.

Best To Keep Windows Shut Or Half Shut.

School Buses May Preferably Have Grills.


Poisonings:

Medicines, Attractive Tablets And Capsules To Be Kept Away From Infants.

Kerosene, Washing Soda And Other Poisonous Items Should Be Totally Inaccessible From Children.

Foreign Bodies:

Pins, Coins, Toys With Small Loose Parts Maybe Swallowed Inadvertently And May Require Surgery.

Stapler Pins From Bags Containing Foodstuffs Maybe Swallowed.

Peanuts And Other Hard Nuts Should Not Be Given To Small Children Below 2 Yr. Age.

They May Occasionally Enter The Wind-Pipe (Trachea) Instead Of Food Pipe And May Block The Windpipe And Cause Suffocation And Occasionally Instantaneous Death.

Do Not Allow Elder Sib To Feed Infant As They May Put Harmful Items Into The Mouth Of The Infant.

Other Small Items Which May Enter Windpipe And Cause Choking Include Pencaps, Whistles In Toys, Stones, Ball Bearings Etc.

Zipper Injuries To The External Genitalia Of Male Children May Occur If There Is No Underwear And Special Care Must Be Taken While Zipping And Unzipping Pants In Such Cases.

Confirm That The Eye-Sight And The Hearing Of A Child Is Normal To Avoid Unnecessary Accidents.

Contributed by Dr. Ketan Parikh

For INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (NEBS br.)

For further enquiries and information on Health Education:

INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION-NEBS br. :

OFFICE:6,UnityApartment; 2-BDamodarPark, LBSRd,Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai-400086.
President:Dr.KetanParikh Ph:(H)5148902/5121603. (R)5100035/5125962.

Hon. Secretary: Dr. Rohit Aggrawal: Ph:(H)5153643/5133062.            (R)5110069.

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